The short yet powerful documentary Love, Barbara is a love letter both to and from Barbara Hammer, the feminist filmmaker and artist whose work explored the experiences of queer women. Hammer, who passed away of ovarian cancer in March 2019, leaves behind a massive archive that testifies to her pioneering legacy in experimental and queer cinema. This documentary functions in part as a brief primer on Hammer’s oeuvre and the ways in which her films artistically rather than voyeuristically (as described in the film by her partner Florrie Burke) engage with the female body and lesbian sexuality.
Yet, what is so moving about this film is the way it also documents Burke’s viewing, for the first time, of previously undiscovered footage of Hammer proclaiming her love for her partner. Excerpted pieces of other personal footage, showcasing how deeply committed the couple was to each other despite their artistic differences, are also made public through the documentary.
Burke preferred not to be in front of the camera; however, it is clear how touched she is to have their love and life together captured on film following Hammer’s passing. In many ways, then, the documentary is as much about Hammer’s legacy as it is about the relationship that sustained her for over three decades.
Additionally, Love, Barbara reveals the ways in which the artist was able to plan her archive after being diagnosed with cancer. The film focalizes the filmmaker’s life and career through the lens of Burke and narrates her coming to terms with becoming a responsible steward of Hammer’s legacy. In doing so, the film reveals how, even in death, a closeness or new form of intimacy between the partners has formed.
Simply put, this fifteen-minute film will urge viewers new to Hammer’s work to dive into her archive. The documentary is a touching introduction to the ways in which an artist’s legacy lives on, not just in the public sphere, but in the private world she leaves behind.
What type of college/university professors would find this title valuable?
Love, Barbara would be an excellent fit for Humanities courses that feature an emphasis on the lives and legacies of women artists and/or filmmakers. It would also be an appropriate title for courses on feminism and sexuality or queer filmmaking.
What kind of film series would this documentary fit in?
This documentary would be a fit for a film series concerning the history of queer filmmaking or female film pioneers.
How would audiences react to this screening?
This film invites curiosity about Hammer’s oeuvre, so audiences will likely be inspired to watch at least one Hammer film in full following the conclusion of Love, Barbara.